Glover Teixeira Explains Raoni Barcelos' Medical Scare at UFC Vegas 121

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira has detailed the medical scare suffered by Raoni Barcelos during his UFC Vegas 121 clash against Raul Rosas Jr. Teixeira, who served in the 39-year-old bantamweight's corner at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas, told MMA Fighting that Barcelos experienced brain swelling and a traumatic brain injury that ultimately caused him to black out as a bodily defense mechanism.

Teixeira explained that the situation was particularly alarming because it did not stem from a standard knockout. Cornering alongside Barcelos' father, Laerte Barcelos, the team initially wondered if an unseen accidental headbutt had caused him to go down. Teixeira described watching Barcelos being carried out on a stretcher as "the most desperate moment in MMA," recalling visible concern from officials, including Hunter Campbell and UFC medical personnel.

Teixeira also criticized referee Herb Dean for a late stoppage in the fight. It marked the second time Teixeira voiced frustration with Dean's officiating in recent months, having also been in Alex Pereira's corner for his title bout against Ciryl Gane at UFC White House this past June, where Pereira criticized Dean for permitting illegal strikes.